[dominick]

I’m not being critical about this. What people do with their time is their own business. Just trying to get a better understanding of why people do certain things.
This morning’s Daily Sun had a front page photo of Villagers waiting in line at Barnes and Noble yesterday to buy president Bush’s new book. The line looked endless and the article said that many of the folks had been waiting for hours, having arrived as early as 4a.m. for the 10a.m. store opening. They could also obtain a wristlet for Saturday’s events.
I went to the store at 3pm and bought the book. No lines, and there were still plenty left, as well as the wristbands. Does it make any sense that B&N would put a limit on the number of books available or that President Bush would limit the number of books that he would sign?? That’s why he’s here; to promote the book and sell as many as possible. Its not as if they were giving them away free. Then why would people be lining up in the middle of the night to wait for hours for the store to open?? I just don’t get it.
For the life of me, I cannot comprehend what on earth could motivate people to do something like that. While I fully understand that we’re all different in many respects, I don’t have any experience or background in human behavior studies or psychology which would help me understand such actions, which, where I’m from, could be considered extreme.
A few years ago, people waited in the rain all night for a supermarket opening. They received a free pineapple and a cheap kitchen utensil when the store opened.
My neighbor waited 2 ½ hours for a table at a restaurant, without complaint. If it’s more than 20 minutes, I quickly lose interest and move on.
How do you folks feel about voluntarily waiting in line for extended periods??

[jebartle]

You have got to be kidding me? Waiting in line for a Bush Book!...Ugh!

[BaylorBear]

I would wait for hours to see the Pope, but I am Catholic so that pretty much explains my reasoning. Might wait for some time for a free sable coat or pearls, but not for a book or a movie. After all, a girl has to have her priorities. Pope, then free sable coat, then free pearls!

[redwitch]

It depends what I'm waiting for. I've waited in line all night to get tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. I've waited a couple of hours for Springsteen and Stones tickets. I stook in line for 1 hour to get All Star tickets at the 'Stick. Would I stand in line for hours for a book? Nope. Like you, I'll get it later. I'm not an autograph hound, so there's no way I would stand in line for that.

If Black Friday has a good sale on something I want at a truly incredible price, I have no problems getting to that store several hours and sitting there with a book and a thermos.

I'm sure that if those in line had figured out they could get the book AND the wristband later, they wouldn't have stood in line, but, for them, it was important that they get the autograph on Saturday and they wanted to make sure they did. So, standing in line for hours made sense to them.

As to Sweet Bay, I like pineapples but not enough to stand in line for one. However, I had a friend who stood in line for the opening (she stands in line for almost any TV event). For her, it was a little part of history and she wanted to be sure she was a part of it. Standing (well, sitting) in line was no big deal to her -- it was mini-party with friends.

[l2ridehd]

I have a very low tolerance for waiting in line. Maybe 10 minutes at most. I have better things to spend my time doing. I guess if it was really something important I would consider a little longer. Not even for a great place to eat or a book or most anything else. I will pay more, order online, pay shipping, or most any other way to avoid waiting. Did to much of that in the military. Now if the place to eat has a good bar with a good wine list, might stay a bit longer. I will even walk out of a doctors office and have been known to change doctors. My time is just as valuable to me as theirs is to them. So guess I am in the same space as dominick. But each to own.

[Yoda]

I'll be there.

Yoda

[billethkid]

I have met 'W' in the past when he was running for governor of TX. While it would be neat to do so again, I will let some one else have my spot for this event.

I always liked Bill Clinton except for his Lewinski debacle. I would go to see him, again, as I also had the good fortune to meet him in Little Rock Arkansas when he was governor. I would not stand in line here in TV to see him again either.

I respect both Bush and Clinton, the man that they are, for different reasons.



btk

[swrinfla]

dominick:

I personally think there's something in the air here in The Bubble. No one I knew "up north" would have even thought about going out to stand in line for anything - except maybe World Series tickets. But, it seems to be a common affliction here.

When Sam's Club opened, my neighbor who runs a small on-line type business from her home heard that they were offering special deals to business members during the first couple/three hours that day. She was in line at 3:30 am!

To me, that's crazy!

I've avoided throngs as unneccesary, too. They say 60,000 came to "see" Sarah Palin. I doubt that more than 5,000 actually saw her, and I'll bet they were awfully tired from waiting, standing so long!

SWR

[LuvItHere]

I would think it was this opening statement of the article in yesterday's Daily Sun that made people think they should arrive early if they wanted to get a book that the President would sign, and to meet him.

THE VILLAGES — If you are hoping to pick up an autographed copy of former President George W. Bush’s new memoir, “Decision Points,” you will probably want to get to the Barnes & Noble at Lake Sumter Landing early.
.....
...Book purchasers will be given a wristband at the time of purchase.
A wristband gives the wearer the chance to meet the 43rd president of the United States at his rally here Saturday morning. Autographed copies of Bush’s book purchased prior to the event will be available for pickup at the rally at Lake Sumter Landing. ....A limited number of wristband holders will be gathered in the reception line immediately following the former president’s remarks .... in order to personally shake hands with Bush and pick up their autographed copy of his book.

“There will be a limited number of wristbands distributed and we anticipate these wristbands going rapidly,” said Barnes & Noble store manager Matt Hudak.

There were plenty of books available to buy at the store, which would not be able to get a signature from Bush. Those who wanted to get a book to be signed by him paid for the book in advance and got the wristband, and their book would be given them at the signing. The store clerk said this is up to Secret Service. It makes sense for security reasons, that people would not be able to hand him a book they brought in.

[cabo35]

Why would people install pools in their yard when there are so many in the Villages?

I don't understand why everybody doesn't get a Harley like mine.....they don't know what their missing.

Why would anybody get up at 1:00 a.m. to go fishing?

Why would anybody stand in line for Jimmy Buffet tickets, Bolshoi Ballet tickets or a Springsteen concert tickets?

Why would people buy a Smart car....I think they're unsafe?

Why do people spend so much on landscaping. I would put the money spent to better use?

Why would we need a human relations study to find out why people stand in line . I can answer that.....because they can.

Isn't freedom wonderful? To each his own. Live and let live. What if every body's favorite color was blue. What if we were all Red Sox fans? What if chocolate was the only flavor? Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.

For those that waited in line for hours.....enjoy the day and the memories that you created for yourself and your family. Your kids, grand kids, and beyond will smile when they hear the story at a holiday family dinner as someone remembers the time grandpa or grandma waited in line all night to get a signed book by President Bush and saw him in the Villages. Uncle Bill or Cousin Mary will go to family room or attic, dust off the book and say, "Here it is....from way back in 2010." Those that didn't wait in line got a good night's sleep....hmmmmmm.

Yoda....me too.

[K9-Lovers]

It sure is interesting and fun to read everyone's opinions on this forum.

[Ajack]

Yoda & Cabo 35, me too.

[graciegirl]

I am too thrifty, tight, miserly, close, careful, to buy the book, but I will borrow it from one of my friends.

Love your comments Cabo!

[Ajack]

Originally Posted by jebartle

You have got to be kidding me? Waiting in line for a Bush Book!...Ugh!

How can I say this without being Political!

You don't. And you did.

[GatorFan]

Well said Cabo!!!!